Victims of recent San Marcos homicides all current, former Texas State students
SAN MARCOS, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - The victims of four homicides this year in San Marcos, including a murder-suicide between friends that happened over the weekend, have been current or recent Texas State University students.
"Everyone's kind of concerned,” said Texas State senior Zachary Smith. “It seems like there's stuff that's happening every day, everywhere."
Smith lives at Uptown Square Apartments where in early April he heard something that sounded like an engine backfiring and friends started reaching out to see if he was okay.
"I was like 'what do you mean am I okay?' but it turned out there was actually a shooting at my apartment which is crazy,” Smith said. “Like you never think that it's going to happen at your apartment until it does.”
23-year-old Andrew Stephen-Jones eventually turned himself in after allegedly shooting to death 21-year-old former Texas State student Nicholas Devone White at Uptown Square.
In February, two were arrested and charged with the murder of 20-year-old Texas State freshman Aaron Jackson Peterman at Park North Condos and former Texas State student Brihana Landrum was killed in a murder-suicide.
Texas State students and close friends Matthew Bond Pfluger and Connor Patrick Shannon were found dead Sunday morning where they were living on Highland Drive in what police say is another apparent murder-suicide.
San Marcos police say Pfluger shot Shannon multiple times in the home before trying to kill himself with a knife. Pfluger eventually went into the backyard and shot himself in the head.
San Marcos police are also investigating a series of sexual assaults including an incident last week at The Retreat on Craddock Avenue where a woman and her roommate were held at gunpoint.
"That gunman then proceeded to bind them, assault them physically and sexually for over the course of about two and a half to three hours," said San Marcos Police Chief Chase Stapp.
On Friday, US Marshals and the FBI arrested Keith Louis III in Austin, but later that day San Marcos PD said he's only involved with one of the assaults and released a sketch of a man they feel may be tied to the other assaults. He is described as a black male, approximately 6’2” to 6’3”, last seen wearing a long sleeve black shirt, black pants, gloves and a mask covering his face and hair.
On Monday morning San Marcos police announced they'll be releasing daily updates on the sexual assault investigation.
"SMPD is enlisting the help of the Texas DPS Rangers and members of the FBI Central Texas Violent Crimes Task Force who have been assisting closely with the investigation since the first reported incident on April 24,” reads the Facebook post from San Marcos PD.
San Marcos police are urging residents to stay cautious, lock doors and windows and report any suspicious behavior.